Child marriage today: which perspective for girls?

TitleChild marriage today: which perspective for girls?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsGranata G
JournalInterdisciplinary Journal of Family Studies
Volume20
Issue1
Pagination38-53
Date Published12/2015
PublisherPadova University Press
Place PublishedPadova, IT
ISSN Number2282-2011
Keywordschild marriage, family, girls, marriage, Women
Abstract

This paper aims to describe the phenomenon of child marriage, that is involving persons under 18 years, starting from the investigation of its multiple causes. In the initial part the phenomenon is framed, both from a conceptual point of view, and about the areas of the world where it is widespread. The time reference is the current one: we tried to access to the most recent data available. In outlining the underlying causes of early marriage, we analyse the economical factors and then move to the social and cultural ones. Then the consequences of this practice are described, in three main aspects: health risk, exposure to violence and lack of access to education. We tried to demonstrate how child marriage affects dramatically on several aspects of the lives of young people involved. Finally, we wish to emphasise the fact that the phenomenon is still largely widespread.

Paper: